What’s Hidden Under The Hood?

The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — You like the way it looks and even haggle on the price, but that used car that you’re thinking of buying may have a hidden hazard that can’t find under the hood and no one is required to tell you.

A charred, burnt out shell is all that remains of the used van Bob Knotts bought. The van burst into flames while parked right in his driveway. So what caused the fire? It turns out that Bob’s van was one of 98,000 recalled because of a wiring defect that could cause a fire.

Bob said the used car dealer he bought the van from never told him it had an unfixed recall. According to Knotts, “The whole thing was a complete loss for me.”

In fact a study by Carfax found more than 2.7 million used vehicles listed for sale online last year had at least one unfixed safety recall issued by the federal government.

The federal government doesn’t recall cars unless a defect could cause a serious risk to passengers in a car or others on the road.

Clarence Ditlow of the Center for Auto Safety said, “They’re all serious. They could cost you your life. They could cause a crash.”

Click here to view the full story from CBS Miami